Sawston Village History Society, formed in 1991, has a large archive of memorabilia from where much of the material on this site will be uploaded. We are always interested in hearing from anyone willing to donate (or loan for copying) any photographs, documents, memories (either written or recorded), and artefacts. Please see our website for details at www.sawstonhistory.org.uk

A Brief History of Sawston

Sawston is the largest village in South Cambridgeshire with a population of almost 8,000. The first inhabitants probably lived near an important Iron Age Fort close to the river near the old Towgood’s Paper Mill, west of the bypass, and the Romans definitely passed through, a fact confirmed by the discovery of a Roman crossroads during excavations carried out before the new Police station was built in Cambridge Road. The name Sawston is thought to be a corruption of the Saxon name Salsingtune also the oldest recorded name of Selsingen in Germany which is Sawston’s twinned town.

Education is provided by two primary schools – Bellbird created in 2007, (an amalgamation of John Falkner and John Paxton Primary Schools) and Icknield Primary School. Secondary education is provided by Sawston Village College, the first of the community schools designed by Henry Morris, which was opened in 1930 by the Prince of Wales.

There are several youth organisations for children from as young as six up to young adults including SYD, the successful drama group and various sports clubs. Adults can also belong to a variety of clubs and societies, as well as many adult education classes and an active U3A.

Sawston was famous for its leather and paper industries. Leather production included chamois wash leathers, fine gloves and sheepskin coats, although chamois leather is the only industry which survives today. Top quality paper making was carried out at Towgood’s Mill from sorting the rags through to the finished sheets of paper. A variety of paper goods from toilet rolls to envelopes, books and pads were produced at Spicer’s (Dickinson’s) and waxed papers were made at British Waxed Wrappings (Marden’s).

Nowadays Sawston has many smaller industries on various sites throughout the village.

The village is served by a wide variety of shops, four public houses (Greyhound, King's Head, White Lion and newly reopened Black Bull/Wok Star), several restaurants, and take-away facilities.

The oldest buildings in Sawston are the Parish Church, built in the 11th century, and Sawston Hall. The Hall is recorded as having passed into the possession of Sir Edmund de la Pole in 1377 and became the property of the Huddleston family in the early 1500s. Queen Mary Tudor stayed at Sawston Hall in 1553 on her way to London but being pursued by the Duke of Northumberland she fled and on turning to look back saw the building in flames. She promised to have it rebuilt allegedly with stone from Cambridge Castle. Following the death of his uncle, crippling death duties forced Major Anthony Eyre to sell Sawston Hall and it was bought for use as a Language School for foreign students in 1982. It was sold again in 2004 and following some refurbishment by the new owner, the Hall has now been put up for sale once more.